program to create an image of a mac os x drive? also inside: how to reset the admin password

[ZippyDan]

i've got an imac for which no one knows the admin password (im assuming that there is no way to retrieve that). but we do have access to the desktop. so im going to have to reinstall the OS so we have full access to the computer, but first i need to backup any important files. i figured instead of picking and choosing id just do a full backup. what programs do that well on a mac os?

also, if i do a full backup, will i have problems later accessing the data without the administrator password?

 

[timswim78]

You can reset the password with the install disc:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274

Then user SuperDuper, or Carbon Copy Cloner to make an image if you need one.

 

[TheStu]

The only cloning options I know of require you to have the administrator password.

You may be able to reset/delete the passwords using single user mode again, off the disc. You may want to google this though, check out MacOSXHints.com

 

[BriGy86]

Originally posted by: timswim78
You can reset the password with the install disc:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274

Then user SuperDuper, or Carbon Copy Cloner to make an image if you need one.

I agree with this. You can reset the root password following the link above and if you have the disk. Once it's reset you can log in as root and make a new admin account or change the password.

You can also open the disk utility located under applications>utilities. Click the hard drive and select new image. That should make an image of the hard drive which you can mount later.

 

[ZippyDan]

you guys rock, i was able to reset the pw with the install disk. it took me a few minutes to realize there were menus at the top with more options

 

[ZippyDan]

i was just reflecting on this discovery and wondering about how "secure" this password reset feature is...

if anyone can reset a mac's admin password with a mac install disc. that is kind of scary.

i could do the same thing in windows, but i would lose access to all the files associated with the admin's account

anyone want to explain?

 

[TheStu]

I have reset the admin password in XP and Vista on people's systems before, and you still had access to all the files. All it took there was boot disk as well.

 

[BriGy86]

Originally posted by: ZippyDan
i was just reflecting on this discovery and wondering about how "secure" this password reset feature is...

if anyone can reset a mac's admin password with a mac install disc. that is kind of scary.

i could do the same thing in windows, but i would lose access to all the files associated with the admin's account

anyone want to explain?

It all has to do with permissions of the file. You may not have permission to a file once the password is changed but since you are an admin by default you have access to change those permissions. So just give yourself ownership and bingo.

 

[BriGy86]

Is there a way to change the admin password without the OS 10 install disk? like if an OS is installed on an external disk and booting to that?